Clam Shells Decorated with Scenes of a Tale
CultureJapanese
Dateearly 19th century
MediumClam shell with painting on paper in colors and gold leaf
DimensionsOverall: 7/8 x 3 3/4 x 2 7/8 inches (2.21 x 9.53 x 7.29 cm)
Credit LineBequest of Robert S. Hardie in memory of his wife, Mayte B. Hardie
Object numberF93-10/2 MM
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionOne of fifty clam shells. The shells are slightly smaller than a human palm, decorated with paintings on gold paper pasted to the iridescent inside surface. The top and bottom portions of the paper of each shell is embossed with hexagonal patterns. The images in the middle are mostly interior scenes with figures in bright Japanese costume. Men appear in rigid court robes. Women's long black hair streams down their backs. The paintings are peeling off at the edge. The shells were formerly stored in two gridded wooden boxes, 25 in each.Gallery LabelThese shells were used in the shell-matching game, kai-ooi, especially popular at New Year’s time. Two sets of shells, containing 360 pieces, were painted with identical scenes from classical Japanese novels, such as the Tale of Genji here. One set would be placed face-down in front of the players, and the second set remained in a box. Players removed the shells one at a time from the box. They looked at the scene on the shell and attempted to find its mate by turning over one shell from the other set at each turn. The one with the most pairs at the end of the game was declared winner.
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